How to Fish - All Weapons & Gear
Your loadout decides how fast you clear islands. Cheap finishers like the Knife beat saving for the pistol, and one upgraded shotgun outclasses every base gun. Here is every weapon and what it does.
Core Combat Mechanics
| Mechanic | Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Catch then fight | You hook a creature with your line, then finish it with your equipped weapon before selling. Money funds better gear and the boat engine. | Core |
| Trick-shot multiplier | Spin mid-air (360) before the killing shot to double the sale bonus. The community farms trick shots on every creature for extra cash. | High |
| Jump dodging | Most fish telegraph a lunge. Jump (Space) sideways as they rush to avoid the hit entirely - key for pufferfish and the whale. | High |
| Reload discipline | Out of ammo mid-fight = dead. Reload (R) during a lunge dodge window, not while the boss is on you. | High |
| Eat to heal | Cooked fish and the island grill heal you. Eating in a lull keeps you alive through boss fights without armor (there is no armor stat). | Medium |
| Boss trophies vs meat | Quest givers want the boss trophy or a specific hand-in item - not ordinary meat chunks. Keep boss drops until the hand-in is done. | Core |
All Weapons
Knife
Synergy: Cheap, fast melee finisher for early fish
Role: Melee finisher
Difficulty: Easy
The best early-game buy. Slash stunned crabs 4-6 times then back off - close range stuns let you finish fights without taking hits.
Brass Knuckles
Synergy: Highest damage-per-cost of the starter kit
Role: Brawler
Difficulty: Medium
Community-proven early skip: buy Brass Knuckles ($58) and upgrade them once, grab a Beer ($12), then 360 trick-shot every creature for bonus cash. Get the Brass Knuckles and skip everything else.
Pistol
Synergy: Decent range for baiting fish from shore
Role: Kiter
Difficulty: Easy
Reliable early damage at range, but weak against late islands. Fine to skip if you go straight to the shotgun.
Shotgun
Synergy: Best all-rounder against piranhas and mid bosses
Role: Burst damage
Difficulty: Medium
The community favorite. Keep upgrading the shotgun - it carries you through the piranha island and pufferfish fight.
SMG
Synergy: Fast fire for small fry, rough recoil
Role: Suppression
Difficulty: Hard
Players report the SMG recoil is extreme. It works for chip damage but the shotgun outclasses it for burst. Situational pick.
Dynamite
Synergy: Crowd clear for piranha swarms
Role: AoE
Difficulty: Easy
Throw it into a fish swarm to clear the pack cheaply, then eat the cooked fish to heal mid-fight.